Some typical features of the mental behavior of individuals have long been noted, and scientists have tried to classify them. This helped to better understand the psychology of a person and even predict his further behavior in specific life situations. Nowadays, we use the ideas about the types of human temperament that were identified many centuries ago.
So, in the XX century, new knowledge was obtained that is directly related to the organic foundations of temperament. Techniques have also been developed that have made it possible to determine the temperament of a particular person through psychodiagnostics of temperament properties.
There have been many attempts to study the human temperament, however, despite this, this area is still not fully understood, it is even referred to the controversial category of modern psychological science.
General concept of temperament
The term "temperament" itself came from the Latin word temperamentum, which means "correlation", "proportionality". Temperament is defined as a complex of psychodynamic properties of an individual, which manifests itself in some features of his mental activity, for example, in the speed of mental reactions, emotional tone, and so on.
That is, temperament is a certain characteristic of a person from the side of the dynamic characteristics of the activity of his psyche (speed, rhythm, intensity, and so on).
Temperament Properties
The main properties of temperament include:
- stability of feelings (degree);
- individual rhythm and pace of the psyche processes;
- volitional effort (degree).
Temperament Areas
The structure of temperament was divided by scientists into three areas, namely:
- general activity;
- motor sphere;
- emotional sphere;
Under the general activity is meant the relationship of the individual with the environment.
The motor sphere is called the motor sphere, that is, this is a region that is associated with movement, and therefore with the general activity of a person. Therefore, it is customary to attribute such manifestations of temperament to this sphere as the total number of body movements, rhythm, speed and pace of a person.
The emotional sphere implies the impulsiveness and sensitivity of the individual, as well as other similar qualities that characterize the dynamics and strength of the manifestation of emotions.
In fact, a personās temperament is easy to determine if one observes his behavior. For example, the speed of his movements, the pace of his speech. The temperament will also be indicated by the speed of inclusion in the work and the responsiveness of a person, the way he reacts to the feelings of other people. Another important factor is the personās ability to get involved in the process, the manifestation of passion and perseverance in achieving the desired. Attention should be paid to fussiness, sociability, speed of mood swings, courage and courage. Slightly perceptible, but significant details are the expression on the face and even the timbre of the voice.
In simple words, temperament is a personās tendency to a specific style of behavior, which is genetically incorporated. After analyzing the temperament of people, you can see that one shows restraint and isolation, and the other has impulsiveness and sociability, and so on.
IP Pavlov identified three main properties of nervous processes:
- mobility;
- equilibrium;
- force.
It is combinations of these properties that create 4 types of higher nervous activity, which determine the characteristics of human behavior and underlie four temperaments.
Pay your attention to the fact that temperament is in no way connected with any abilities or giftedness of a person. People with different temperaments may have the same ability. Well-known writers serve as an example of this, for example, A. S. Pushkin was a choleric, and N. V. Gogol a melancholy.
The main types of temperament
There are 4 types of temperament: phlegmatic, melancholic, sanguine, choleric. The main difference between these types is precisely the emotional state, dynamics and intensity of its occurrence. Thus, the phlegmatic type is characterized by slowly arising weak feelings; for melancholy - slowly emerging, but strong feelings; for sanguine people - quickly arising, but weak feelings; for choleric people - quickly emerging strong feelings. The main features of choleric and sanguine temperaments are a strong external expression of feelings, which is usually clearly visible in facial expressions, speech and movements. Also, in these types of temperament, there is general mobility and, in principle, speed of movement. The main features for phlegmatic and melancholic temperaments are reverse traits, namely, weak expression of feelings and slowness in movements.
Specifications
Types of temperaments and their characteristics from the point of view of household psychology:
- Phlegmatic is a slow, calm and balanced person; itās very difficult to get rid of yourself and hurt his feelings; this temperament is not characterized by an external manifestation of feelings.
- A melancholic is a person for whom the external manifestations of feelings and generally emotionality are uncharacteristic, but if he experiences any emotional shock, then it is very painful and a long time; such people have little emotional reaction, but if they do, they are very worried, but in appearance it is quite difficult to see.
- Sanguine is a person who acts quickly, he is quite mobile and emotional; as a rule, people of such a temperament give an emotional response to everything that happens around, because it really impresses them; all feelings are manifested quite strongly, but it is in the external behavior, however, they are quickly replaced.
- Choleric is a fast person, who is characterized by the manifestation of strong and instantly emerging emotions and feelings, which are clearly expressed using gestures, facial expressions and speech; this temperament is characterized by hot temper and the manifestation of sharp and violent reactions.
Description of the method and formula of Belovās temperament
There are 4 types of temperament, but in "pure form" there is practically none of them. Most often, people can observe a combination of some individual features of different temperaments. In one person several temperaments can be combined, which can manifest themselves depending on different life situations and in different areas of life. It is believed that in each person all four types are combined, but in different proportions.
In order to find out how the four fundamental types of temperament are related in one particular person, we will use the formula of Belovās temperament.
The method of A. Belov was created in order to determine the type that is predominant for a particular person, and also to determine how strongly the features of other temperaments are represented in it.
The essence of the Belov methodology
The methodology of Belovās temperament formula consists in giving four subjects cards in succession. Each has twenty properties that are characteristic of a particular temperament. The first card is designed to determine the type of choleric, the second for sanguine, the third for phlegmatic and the fourth for melancholic.
How to use Belovās temperament formula?
The test subject needs to take each card and, carefully reading the list of properties, mark with the ā+ā sign those properties that are characteristic of him and the ā-ā sign of those properties that are uncharacteristic of him. If the subject is in doubt, then nothing needs to be put in place of the sign. No need to think too long about the answer.
results
To process the formula of Belovās temperament, you should calculate the number of ā+ā signs on each card separately. Then you need to calculate the percentage of positive answers for each type of temperament. To do this, use the following Belov temperament formulas:
Total
How to find out your dominant temperament? In the event that the answer obtained using the formula of Belovās temperament is 40% or more, then this temperament is dominant for a person.
How to find out the severity of other temperaments? If the answer using the interpretation of Belovās temperament formula was 30-39%, then this indicates that this type of temperament is quite pronounced. If the result was from 20% to 29%, this indicates that this type of temperament is moderate. If the answer ranges from 10% to 19%, then this means that this type of temperament according to the Belov formula is very weakly expressed.
Belovās technique helps to determine the dominant temperament of a person, which is very important. After all, when a person knows his temperament, then it becomes easier for him to understand himself. If we have information about the temperament of another person, then we begin to understand his behavior, it becomes easier for us to communicate with him and find a common language. To determine temperament, you can always use the description of the formula of Belovās temperament and apply it in practice.